SHADOW energy minister Tom Greatrex blasted the huge mark-up which comes on the back of a cost-of-living crisis for customers.

BRITAIN'S big energy companies have come under attack again after figures showed they have doubled their profits on gas and electricity supplies.

Energy watchdogs Ofgem say profits on dual fuel bills have soared in the last year.

The mark-up on gas has hit 10 per cent – double what it was last year.

Profit margins from supplying households with both gas and electricity are up seven per cent – up from three per cent last year.

The big six rake it in by selling wholesale supplies to themselves, then marking up retail prices to consumers.

Wholesale prices have been falling and the average profit from each dual-fuel household has risen from £44 a year ago to £96 this year.

The figures were slammed by poverty groups.

And Labour repeated their promise to end the energy cartel.

Tom Greatrex, Shadow Energy Minister, said: “However you look at it, there’s no hiding the fact that under Alex Salmond and David Cameron, the energy companies have increased their profits on the back of spiralling bills and a cost-of-living crisis for hard-pressed consumers in Scotland.”

MP Tom Greatrex (Photo: Hamilton Advertiser)

The Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP added: “Salmond has stood shoulder to shoulder with Cameron in his staunch defence of the big six and their profits.

“The next Labour government will undertake the biggest overhaul of our energy market since privatisation.

“Our plans will break up the big energy companies, put an end to their secret deals and create a tough new regulator with the power to force companies to cut their prices when wholesale costs fall.

“And until these reforms kick in, we will put a stop to unfair price rises by freezing energy bills until 2017, saving Scotland £500million and £120 for the average household.”